Adult ed collective bargaining bill opposed by ACSA

A bill regarding collective bargaining has passed out of the Assembly Education Committee and is now being considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. ACSA is asking members to write letters in opposition to Assembly Bill 2053, Karnette, D-Long Beach.

AB 2053 makes the right to earn and retain annual reappointment, a mandatory subject of collective bargaining for part-time adult education teachers. The bill is sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers and is supported by all of the education unions.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee is now reviewing its fiscal impact. AB 2053 has been scheduled to be heard on May 14.

School leaders are encouraged to not only explain what this bill would do to their adult education programs, but to give examples of the financial impact of this measure to their schools. Since the bill is before a fiscal committee, lawmakers will be reviewing the bill for the financial impact, not so much the policy involved.

ACSA Legislative Advocate Laura Preston outlined some of the objections to AB 2053. Some of these points could be incorporated into letters of opposition.

Adult education is very different than traditional educational programs. Classes start and finish at all times throughout the entire year, which is different from a traditional school calendar that starts and ends on a specific date. Adult education programs receive a much smaller revenue limit, making full-time hiring difficult. In addition, adult education classes are voluntary and are dependent on the number of enrollees at not only the start of the class but through its duration in order to maintain the program.

Adult education programs also vary depending on community needs. If a teacher is hired to teach automotive mechanics but because of lack of interest or changing demographics a technology class is needed instead, school districts must be able to hire the appropriate teacher for the job, not one based on seniority.

If an adult school hires a teacher and too few people enroll in the program, then the class is cancelled. There is no penalty to the student for dropping a class midway through the program. So, if enrollment drops and the class becomes unavailable after it has started, the class is cancelled.
Letters can be sent to Assembly members at: The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. The members of the committee can also be accessed online at www.assembly.ca.gov.